The MV Faina, a Ukrainian arms freighter in pirate custody for over four months, was finally freed after the paying of a ransom. It's captain, unfortunately, died of an undisclosed illness during the captivity. The crew of MV Faina does not appear to have been particular well treated by its pirate captors. However, the cargo of the ship, including tanks, light arms, and ammunition, appears to be intact; there was considerable concern about the destabilizing effect of such a shipment on the Somali political situation. In other piracy news, the United States Navy has captured sixteen pirates in the last three days. If this becomes a trend, it will represent a huge increase in the US anti-piracy profile. The pirates are being taken to Kenya, where a legal system capable of handling piracy cases is being developed. The existence of a local legal system willing to handle pirates is key; warships have been hesitant about capturing and holding pirates in the absence of clear maritime law. With luck, captures like these will help deter future pirate activity. --Robert Farley
